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LIVERPOOL put on a great defensive performance against Crystal Palace on Monday night as the hype surrounding their push for the Premier League title grows.

The Reds might have one of the smallest sides in the league but by keeping possession and defending diligently at set-pieces, Jurgen Klopp’s side prevented Palace from creating a single clear-cut chance at Selhurst Park.

Liverpool fielded just two outfield players over 6ft - Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez - and six who are 5ft 8ins or smaller.

Only Manchester City this season will come close to fielding a smaller team than Liverpool and yet they found a way to overcome a perceived weakness in the Premier League – a lack of height.

Since the turn of the year, Liverpool have the best record in the league for goals and shots conceded, along with clean sheets – and it’s not hard to understand why.

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Since he arrived at Anfield from Southampton in a £75million transfer, Virgil van Dijk has more clean sheets than any other Premier League defender.

At Palace, the Reds may have been dwarfed at times, but 6ft 4ins van Dijk, along with the other two players over 6ft, Joe Gomez (6ft 2ins) and Alisson (6ft 4ins), were key in dealing with the long high ball, restricting Palace to just nine per cent completion on deep set-pieces (corners and free-kicks).

Van Dijk and Alisson – who like the Dutchman commanded a world-record fee for his position at £66.8m – allow Klopp to play the game he wants in a league which has traditionally favoured height.

The key, the manager has explained, is getting the right people on the end of every long ball.

Van Dijk has more clean sheets than any other Premier League defender since moving to Liverpool (Image: PA)

“There is not just one player responsible for something; we have to have the right formation around set-pieces,” he said.

“Set-pieces are quite different here is England. The games so far we were not taller than West Ham game or Palace, but the opposite.

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Liverpool news: Alisson commanded a world-record fee for his position at £66.8m (Image: REUTERS)

Alisson is already making a huge difference. He caught corners at Selhurst Park, something no Reds keeper has done in a long time. And when he didn’t come, van Dijk headed away – as he did in the final minute in a move that led to Sadio Mane’s goal.